Count Your Turtles, Toads and Tulip-Trees in Elgin County!

How do you describe the feeling of spring? Is it the bright splashes of colour, the crisp morning air filled with song, or simply the general sensation of life seeping back into the landscape? It is time to put your awakening senses to good use! Launching April 1st, the Elgin Natural Heritage Inventory is a community project which encourages people to get outside, explore Elgin, and collect biodiversity information of all kinds.

Updated natural heritage information for Elgin County is urgently need. Most information is out-of-date, with many species records more than 30 years old! Accurate and current data is critical to informing effective conservation, stewardship and long-term planning. This project will harness community efforts to collect, record, and report accurate and reliable data for Elgin’s diverse animal and plant life, making it available to government agencies, environmental organizations and researchers.

Through a detailed Participant Guide, and the use of community members as local Area Coordinators, Carolinian Canada hopes to make the process of reporting significant species easier and more accessible. The Guide is freely available to all registered participants. Register today! To find out more, visit caroliniancanada.ca/elgin-natural-heritage-inventory or email ElginNHI@carolinian.org. Join our mailing list to keep informed of all upcoming Elgin Inventory workshops and events.

Thanks to the support of Ontario Trillium Foundation, Parks Canada, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment Canada and a host of other partners for supporting our programs to "Green the Future of southwestern Ontario".

Nominate Your Conservation Hero
CAROLINIAN CANADA'S CONSERVATION AWARDS
Visit our website to download our nomination guidelines and form
We enjoy celebrating conservation success at Carolinian Canada, and every year we ask you to help us celebrate the actions of conservation heroes in Carolinian Canada. We are now accepting nominations for our Conservation Awards. Nominate your conservation hero today for one of four categories:

Individual
Group
Youth
Lifetime Achievement

Please submit your nominations by April 10th, 2014.

Celebrating 30 Years Of Significant Conservation
SAVE THE DATE: ANNOUNCING THE CAROLINIAN CANADA COALITION AGM
May 22ND, 2014 St. Thomas, ON
Find Out More
It's a big year for Carolinian Canada -- we're celebrating 30 years of conservation success. Join us on May 22nd for our Annual General Meeting. More details coming soon!
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Elgin Natural Heritage Inventory
UPCOMING CONSERVATION MEETINGS/EVENTS
All are open to the public
Find Out More
Join in several public meetings and events with local and regional conservation and field naturalist groups, and get the chance to learn about taking part in the Elgin Natural Heritage Inventory.

April 4, 2014, 7:30 pm
St. Thomas Field Naturalists
Knox Presbyterian Church

April 5, 2014, 1-4 pm
Elgin Middlesex Woodlot Owners Association
Best Western, London at 401 & Hwy 4 (6675 Burtwistle Ln)

April 14, 2014, 7:00 pm
Otter Valley Naturalists
Port Burwell Public School
TALK: Discovering Nature: Pathways to Healthier Kids & Stronger, Closer Families

April 17, 2014, 8 PM
West Elgin Nature Club
TALK: 'Butterfly Whisperer' and author Brenda Kulon
Grace Anglican Church Hall, Morden St., West Lorne

May 2, 2014, 7:30 pm
St. Thomas Field Naturalists
TALK: Sciensational Snakes – will include mostly native snakes
Knox Presbyterian Church
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Do More for Nature
GROW WILD!
www.growwild.ca
Over the past three years, we have been collecting Grow Wild! pledges to track the success of our outreach programs. In February we surpassed our goal and have collected over 1000 pledges from people like you who have committee to do more for nature.
Grow Wild! has allowed us to capture what people want to do for healthy habitats, and has allowed us to gather stories about some of the many activities that are taking place throughout Carolinian Canada. Why not join a nature club this spring? It is a perfect way to get outside and learn more about nature. If you’re already part of a nature club, tell us what your group is doing for nature.
Make your Pledge or share your conservation story today!

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Save. Steward. Seed
Click here to join, or renew your membership with the Coalition.
Your support helps save species, steward ecosystems and seed habitats in the Carolinian Life Zone. Together we are a strong community.
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CCC in the News

Big Picture Talks

I attended a symposium in November when I first started at CCC called "Thinking Extinction" - it was a very multi-disciplinary look at loss of species, including philosophy, psychology, sociology, and your standard biological sciences. I found it extremely inspiring and many of the talks made me think differently about how we could improve engaging the public in caring about saving the world! The videos of the talks are all now available online - see below for details. The list of speakers may be enough to intrigue you!
Jessica Steiner - Conservation Biologist

Feature News

HIEA CAP Meetings - Dates and Presentations
May 13, August 12, November 11, Hamilton
Hamilton Industrial Environmental Association
Click Here to Learn More
The Community Advisory Panel (CAP) was developed to provide an open forum where community and local association representatives can discuss environmental concerns with member company representatives. Expect presentations from both industry and environmental members, and look forward to potential tours of member companies. 2014 meetings have been scheduled to start at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday February 11, May 13, August 12 and November 11 in the ArcelorMittal Dofasco main office at 1300 Burlington Street East.
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Members Notice Board

Announcements

Spring Birding Pass Introduced
April, Essex Region
Essex Region Conservation Authority
Click Here to Learn More
The Essex Region Conservation Authority has introduced a new pass to allow more birders to experience the unique shorebird migration at Hillman Marsh. The Hillman Spring Birding Pass will provide unlimited entry to Hillman Marsh Conservation Area from April 15 - May 31
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Essex Region Park Go Smoke Free
March, Essex Region
Essex Region Conservation Authority
Click Here to Learn More
The 2014 operating season will represent Phase One of the policy implementation, and will include Holiday Beach, Hillman Marsh, and the John R. Park Homestead Conservation Areas. Smoking will be restricted to the parking lots at Hillman and the Homestead. At Holiday Beach, due to the size of the Conservation Area, there will be several designated smoking areas. Seasonal campsites and hunting blinds are exempt. The policy will be implemented throughout the balance of ERCA's 19 publicly accessible Conservation Areas in 2015.
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K-9: Watershed Champions Award
by April 18, Online
Evergreen
Click Here to Learn More
The RBC-Evergreen Watershed Champions Award is offering eight regional awards of $2,500 and one national award of $3,500 to publicly-funded elementary and middle-school classes across Canada for learning about water and caring for their local watershed.
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Nature's Calling Environmental Education Receives Charitable Status
March, Ontario
Nature's Calling Environmental Education
Click Here to Learn More
NCEE has officially received its charitable status. This is a big step for the environmental education group.
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Events

Huron Fringe Birding Festival
May, MacGregor Point Provincial Park
Friends of MacGregor Point Park
Click Here to Learn More
Come up to MacGregor Point Park to enjoy guided hikes, photography and bird identification workshops, and more! The Huron Fringe Birding Festival celebrates the end of the migration period, when birds are on their nests, migrants are everywhere, insects abound and wildflowers are beginning to bloom. The festival will feature a banquet with guest speaker, and an evening program of excellent presenters and night hikes.
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Carolinian Life Zone Exhibit Opens
Opening April 23, 48346 John Wise Line, Aylmer
Jaffa Environmental Education Centre
Click Here to Learn More
A new exhibit is opening dedicated to the Carolinian Life Zone at the Jaffa Environmental Education Centre. For more information, RSVP to Johanne Beasley: j.beasley@tvdsb.on.ca or 519.773.5196
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The Great Canadian Ecofest
June 22, Komoka
The Great Canadian EcoFest
Click Here to Learn More
Come to Komoka to celebrate the Great Canadian Ecofest's second year of fun, food, environmental education, entertainment and shopping at our eco-friendly marketplace. From 10-4 at the Komoka Community Centre ( 133 Queen St. Komoka). Please call Steve Gelinas 519-434-6224 for more information.
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Five Points Forest and Meadowlily Photo Exhibits
April, London and Ingersol
Thames Talbot Land Trust
Click Here to Learn More
Join Thames Talbot Land Trust and the London Camera Club for two exhibits during the month of April. Come out to the London Central Library and the Ingersoll Public Library to enjoy these events.
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11th Annual Earth Day Colloquium
April 9-10, London
University of Western Ontario
Click Here to Learn More
The Earth Day Colloquium (EDC) is now in its 11th year! This conference is organized by graduate students at Western University and FREE to attend and participate in. This event aims to bring together the knowledge and research of undergraduate and graduate students and community members involved in environment and sustainability.
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Lambton Wildlife Annual General Meeting
April, Lambton County
Lampton Wildlife Incorporated
Click Here to Learn More
Don't miss the Woodcock Peenting Outing, or the LWI AGM and Banquet in April with speaker Peter Middleton on Patterns in Time: The Changing Arctic.
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2014 Sustainable Sarnia-Lambton Conference
April 24, Sarnia
Bluewater Sustainability Initiative
Register Now
This FREE half-day conference and workshop will highlight and celebrate the great work being done in Sarnia-Lambton to make it a more sustainable community. Receive a copy of the 2014 Community Snapshot, meet local visionaries and find out how you can support the sustainability initiatives.
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Teen Birders Invited to Apply for Young Ornithologists Workshop
August, Long Point
Bird Studies Canada
Click Here to Learn More
The Doug Tarry Bird Study Awards foster the development of ornithological interests in Canadian teenagers. Recipients of the awards attend a week-long workshop/natural history camp or a month-long student internship at Long Point Bird Observatory
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International Association for Great Lakes Research Conference 2014
May 26-30, Hamilton
International Association for Great Lakes Research
Click Here to Learn More
Join researchers from around the world at the 57th Annual Conference on Great Lakes Research in Hamilton, Ontario, on the campus of McMaster University.
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Grand River Spring Events
April, Grand River Region
Grand River Conservation Authority
Click Here to Learn More
So much to do along the Grand! Join the Hamilton Amateur Astronomer's club for a tour of the stars and planets, The Rotary Club for Forest/Earth Week tree planting, take a Grand River Adventure canoe trip down river, and so much more!
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Baillie Birdathon 2014
May, North America
Bird Studies Canada
Click Here to Learn More
The Baillie Birdathon is the oldest sponsored bird count in North America. The challenge is to identify as many bird species as possible within a 24-hour period, during the month of May. The money raised benefits Bird Studies Canada, the James L Baillie Memorial Fund, and participating migration monitoring stations and conservation organizations (designated by participants to receive a portion of funds raised)
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Trails Education, Interpretation, and Construction
April - May, Online
Fleming College
Click Here to Learn More
Fleming College is offering several Sustainable Trails Certificates through April and May.
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Become a Tree Captain or Tree Guru!
April, London
ReForest London
Click Here to Learn More
Reforest London is Offering three training sessions this April. Tree Gurus are knowledgeable tree planters who help at planting and aftercare events. Neighbourhood Tree Captains are people who want to see more trees planted in their own neighbourhoods and they promote tree planting and tree related events. Training sessions are 2.5-3h long and include both in-class and outdoor components.
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Frogfest!
April - May, Niagara
Heartland Forest
Click Here to Learn More
Frogfest is coming up May 3 this year. Don't miss it! Also, there are great events for the kids at Heartland Forest this year, including the Easter egg hunt and junior woodcarvers club.
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Take a Hike with Nature's Calling
April - May, Ontario
Nature's Calling Environmental Education
Click Here to Learn More
Join Nature's Calling for family hikes. Enjoy Amazing Amphibians at Backus Heritage Conservation Area, Spring Birds and the Songs at Lynn Valley Trail. Also, join in to celebrate Earth Day at Backus Heritage Conservation Area April 26. Enjoy family fun activities including tree planting, guided nature hike, earth friendly crafts and so much more!
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Volunteer for Spring Workdays
April, London
Thames Talbot Land Trust
Click Here to Learn More
Help Thames Talbot Land Trust by volunteering for a cleanup workday at one of four locations this April.
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Green Team Members Required!
April 27, Windsor
Essex Region Conservation Authority
Click Here to Learn More
April is Earth Month, and the Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA) is inviting everyone to join them on Sunday, April 27, 2014 to help plant more than 1,800 native trees and shrubs in the City of Windsor. This year, the tree planting event will once again take place in the Little River Corridor at Florence and McHugh, just east of the WFCU Centre
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Gray Ratsnake Awareness Event
April 21, Cayuga
Ruthven Park National Historic Site
Click Here to Learn More
Join in for a fascinating afternoon with Canada's largest snake. Enjoy a tour of hibernacula and nest boxes and Sciensational Sssnakes live!
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Real Life Conservation on Pelee Island - AGM
April 10, Fanshawe Conservation Area
Thames Talbot Land Trust
Click Here to Learn More
Come out for the Thames Talbot Land Trust annual general meeting with speaker Dr. Mhairi McFarlane, Conservation Biologist. Dr. McFarlane coordinates field-scale habitat restoration on NCC properties from Niagara to Pelee Island.
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